Subtitles and Transcript

Jessi Arrington

0:11
I'm Jessi, and this is my suitcase.But before I show you what I've got inside,I'm going to make a very public confession,and that is,I'm outfit-obsessed.I love finding, wearing,and more recently,photographing and blogginga different, colorful, crazy outfitfor every single occasion.But I don't buy anything new.I get all my clothes secondhandfrom flea markets and thrift stores.Aww, thank you.Secondhand shoppingallows me to reduce the impactmy wardrobe has on the environmentand on my wallet.I get to meet all kinds of great people;my dollars usually go to a good cause;I look pretty unique;and it makes shopping like my own personal treasure hunt.I mean, what am I going to find today?Is it going to be my size?Will I like the color?Will it be under $20?If all the answers are yes,I feel as though I've won.

1:16
I want to get back to my suitcaseand tell you what I packedfor this exciting week here at TED.I mean, what does somebody with all these outfits bring with her?So I'm going to show you exactly what I brought.I brought seven pairs of underpantsand that's it.Exactly one week's worth of undiesis all I put in my suitcase.I was betting that I'd be able to findeverything else I could possible want to wearonce I got here to Palm Springs.And since you don't know meas the woman walking around TED in her underwear --(Laughter)that means I found a few things.And I'd really love to show you my week's worth of outfits right now.Does that sound good?(Applause)So as I do this,I'm also going to tell you a few of the life lessonsthat, believe it or not, I have picked upin these adventures wearing nothing new.

2:14
So let's start with Sunday.I call this "Shiny Tiger."You do not have to spend a lot of money to look great.You can almost always look phenomenal for under $50.This whole outfit, including the jacket,cost me $55,and it was the most expensive thingthat I wore the entire week.

2:33
Monday: Color is powerful.It is almost physiologically impossibleto be in a bad mood when you're wearing bright red pants.(Laughter)If you are happy,you are going to attract other happy people to you.

2:50
Tuesday:Fitting in is way overrated.I've spent a whole lot of my lifetrying to be myselfand at the same time fit in.Just be who you are.If you are surrounding yourself with the right people,they will not only get it,they will appreciate it.

3:10
Wednesday:Embrace your inner child.Sometimes people tell methat I look like I'm playing dress-up,or that I remind them of their seven-year-old.I like to smileand say, "Thank you."

3:26
Thursday:Confidence is key.If you think you look good in something,you almost certainly do.And if you don't think you look good in something,you're also probably right.I grew up with a mom who taught me this day-in and day-out.But it wasn't until I turned 30that I really got what this meant.And I'm going to break it down for you for just a second.If you believe you're a beautiful personinside and out,there is no look that you can't pull off.So there is no excuse for any of us here in this audience.We should be able to rock anything we want to rock.Thank you.

4:16
And finally, Saturday:Developing your own unique personal styleis a really great way to tell the world something about youwithout having to say a word.It's been proven to me time and time againas people have walked up to me this weeksimply because of what I'm wearing,and we've had great conversations.

4:34
So obviously this is not all going to fitback in my tiny suitcase.So before I go home to Brooklyn,I'm going to donate everything back.Because the lesson I'm trying to learn myself this weekis that it's okay to let go.I don't need to get emotionally attached to these thingsbecause around the corner,there is always going to beanother crazy, colorful,shiny outfitjust waiting for me,if I put a little love in my heart and look.